CHINA has moved closer to manned lunar landings with the successful re-entry and landing of a new spacecraft on Friday.

A Long March 5B launched the spacecraft on Tuesday which descend with three parachutes. Airbags were deployed to further cushion the landing. The new spacecraft is partially reusable, designer Guo Bin told CCTV: “We designed a foldable shield.

The mission is code-named Artemis, after the Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, the Moon, and chastity.

In Greek mythology, Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo.

Changes over time in the NASA Budget (Image: EXPRESS)

The previous Moon missions were codenamed Apollo.

NASA's website says: “With the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

“We will collaborate with our commercial and international partners and establish sustainable exploration by 2028.

NASA say Mars will be the next step (Image: GETTY)

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“Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.”

NASA is moving ahead with the project despite the coronavirus pandemic largely pausing some operations, administrator Jim Bridenstine explained: "It's important that this agency do this now because our country — and in fact the whole world — has been shaken by this coronavirus pandemic.